Back to News

Top 10 Black Figures from American History by Astound.

Published on 21/03/2022

Are you in search of artists for your next biography and non-fiction books? Take a look at our Astounding Artists’ illustrations featuring important African American figures and moments in history.

Karen de la Vega: Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license.

Patrick Corrigan: Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the civil rights movement.

Brooke O’Niell: Elizabeth Catlett was an African American sculptor and graphic artist best known for her depictions of the Black-American experience in the 20th century, which often focused on the female experience.

Roberta Ravasio: Rebecca Lee Crumpler, born Rebecca Davis, was an American physician, nurse and author. After studying at the New England Female Medical College, in 1864 she became the first African-American woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States.

Maria Perera: Dorothy Irene Height was an African American civil rights and women’s rights activist. She focused on the issues of African American women, including unemployment, illiteracy, and voter awareness.

Alessandra Santelli: Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist

Kimberley Walker: Rosa Parks was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has honored her as “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement”.

Gabriela Delgado: Marian Anderson was an American contralto and was an important figure in the struggle for African-American artists to overcome racial prejudice in the United States during the mid-twentieth century.

Alexandra Badiu: Simone Biles is considered one of the greatest and most dominant gymnasts of all time. She is the gymnast with the most World medals (25) and most World gold medals (19).

Jim Crawley: Michael Jordan is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He was integral in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global cultural icon in the process.

Other News

Secrets from the Talent Scouts

Featured illustration by Maria Teresa Palladino. Submitting your work to an illustration agency can feel daunting, especially when you are unsure what happens once you press send. After reviewing a large number of applications, we have gathered a few simple tips to help your submission feel thoughtful, personal and memorable Make it Personal We love…

What Do Agents Look For? Insights From Three Recent Signings

Finding the right agency for you goes far beyond simply being signed. It’s about finding a place where your work can grow, where you can collaborate with great clients on projects that truly resonate with you, and where you can build a sustainable income out of what you love. At ITSme, we help illustrators find…

How to Build an Illustration Portfolio Without Client Work

“I don’t have any client work, what do I even put in my portfolio?”  This is one of the more common worries we hear from illustrators who are new to developing their portfolios, but we want to encourage you to reframe this question: Having no client work isn’t a weakness, try to view this as…

Are There Snakes in Your Folio? How to Spot Them Before an Art Buyer Does

What to include in an illustrator portfolio and how to spot snakes! (In the children’s publishing and decorative market) Art directors scan agency portfolios and websites rapidly. They are mentally processing the acquisitions list they’re looking to fulfil, remembering what the rights team said sells well in a particular market, and giving serious artistic consideration…

How to Get Your Illustration Work Seen

Are you an illustrator looking for open calls and opportunities? The work is out there, and you are not invisible, although sometimes in such a competitive environment, we understand it is natural to worry that you are going unseen. The fact is, you just need to know where to look and how to show up…

Why Graphic Novels Are Booming – and Why Now Is the Time to Get Them Into Your Portfolio

Graphic novels are having a moment and it’s no passing trend. From classrooms to bestseller lists, graphic novels are dominating shelves and reading time across all ages. What was once seen as a niche format with a distinct, heavy-lined “comic book” aesthetic has exploded into a dynamic, expressive medium that spans every style and genre…

Menu
×

Thank you for joining us. The answer to the quiz is:

⬇ Download PDF Guide
Learn how to spot AI art in this comprehensive guide.
Open Full Guide ↗